MAIZE unified school district 266
CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.


Maize Elementary School
March 2022
Principal's Message
Important Dates and Information
Spring Break- No School
March 14-18th

Professional Development- No School
April 15th

No School
April 18th

Color Run
April 29th at 6:00 pm
Sign up today to be a Watch D.O.G.
WatchDOG's
Please consider joining us for a day or two! We have a few openings for the Spring.
All volunteers will need to visit the district website and do a background check.
Follow this link to sign up for a time to be a WatchD.O.G.
Nurses Corner
Hello Panther families, with Spring right around the corner it’s a good time to start thinking about how to get active. Exercising frequently is a great thing for everyone to be doing, including your children. This is a great time of year to help your child find ways to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. 
BENEFITS OF EXERCISE:
Just like with adults, regular exercise is extremely beneficial for children. Some of these benefits include: 
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Prevention of diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes
• Reduce stress levels
How much exercise does your child need? 
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children should get a minimum of 1 hour of physical activity per day.
HOW TO MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE:
• Limit time spent playing video games or watching TV (electronic use)
• Find activities that you can enjoy as a family such as taking walks or riding bikes around your neighborhood
• If indoors, you can use YouTube videos that lead children in an exercise program.
HEALTH REMINDER…
Please remind your children to practice good handwashing, proper covering of their coughing/sneezing, and help them by getting their vaccinations to keep them healthy for school. Please keep your children home if they are exhibiting any of the following symptoms: fever over 100 degrees, headache, general aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, continuous coughing, chest discomfort, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Fever MUST be gone without the use of a fever reducing medication (i.e. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Motrin (Ibuprofen)) for a full 24 hours before student is to return to school. Just a reminder that we do not have a supply of Tylenol or Ibuprofen here at school. We can only give medications that parents have supplied along with a signed document. 
 
GIVING YOUR CHILD MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
• Complete a request—Administration of Medication form
• The medication MUST be in the original container.
• The medication must be current. Expired medication will not be administered.
• The medication must be age appropriate. Any medication for a person older than the child will require a signed form from the child’s physician.
• All prescription medications MUST have the pharmacy label with the student’s name on the bottle/box.
• Students MAY NOT self-administer medications in the elementary schools.

From The Counselors
The goal of student placement is to design balanced classes, according to established criteria, which create the optimal learning environment for all Maize Elementary School students. Each classroom is a small community that must be representative of the diverse social, academic, and physical needs and abilities of all students. If you have any concerns about your child’s class placement for next year, please visit with the counselors, Becky Stephens or Andrea Nietfeld.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We start working on class placements this month.

Our lessons this month are about working together and showing cooperation.

Have a great Spring Break!

Becky Stephens & Andrea Nietfeld
MES Counselors
350-2913 & 350-2912            
Coach's Corner
Happy Spring Break and NCAA basketball month! We have just finished up volleying, and will begin bowling and hockey in March. We will also be focusing on amounts of daily activity that our bodies need. Students will continue working hard on our flexibility and muscular strength in order to raise our physical fitness scores.
Lastly, we will be reviewing the bones and muscles for each grade as well.
Be sure to stay active and stay safe during spring break! Keep Moving!

Coach Horn and Coach Peck

District Online Bulletin Board
Find events, opportunities on district’s
 Online Bulletin Board

Maize USD 266’s Online Bulletin Board is the place to go for information about upcoming events, camps, clinics, fundraisers, and other opportunities available through the district and official partner agencies. Visit www.usd266.com/OnlineBulletinBoard.

MES PTO Information
MES Spirit Wear Store Now Open!
We have a new online spirit wear store for MES! T-Shirts, Hats, Sweatshirts, Masks!

A portion of the proceeds go back to the PTO and to the school. Here is the link to shop! MES Spirit Wear Store

Dillons Community Rewards
Dillons is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars through Dillons Community Rewards.

Now you can link your Dillons shopper card to Maize Elementary and help us earn funds. Click here to learn more. When registering, be sure to use our organization number 12736. Thank you for your support!

*Please visit our Maize Elementary PTO Facebook Page for more information and to follow everything that is happening within our Parent Teacher Organization.
Music Notes
We have accomplished so much in music class already this quarter! 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades put on a wonderful performance at our new Performing Arts Center. Mrs. Thompson and I are so proud of the hard work they put into learning all of the songs and special parts. Big thanks to our families for being flexible with the bad weather and understanding our need to reschedule at the last minute.

A group of thirty MES 2nd-4th graders were selected to participate in a teaching session at the State Music Education Convention at Century II on February 25th. They created a mock classroom for two aspiring elementary music teachers from Washburn University and WSU. They followed a 10 minute music lesson and shared individual feedback to the college students in front of teachers, professors, and collegiate members in the audience. They represented MES so well and many teachers from around the state complimented them on their composure, singing, and maturity. Mrs. Thompson and I were very impressed with them!

To finish out the year we have planned three more zoom sessions with some talented children’s artists! 4th grade will be learning about and talking with Walter Martin who wrote the children’s album “We’re All Young Together”. 3rd and 2nd grade will talk with artist and author Kira Willey. Listen to her album “Mindful Moments for Kids” for some great breathing and focusing songs. Also check out her book “Breathe Like a Bear”. Finally Kindergarten is going to meet Miss Katie from Miss Katie Sings on YouTube. She does great work for our littlest ones.

Happy Listening!

Yearbook
It is time to order your Yearbook!
Order online through Inter-state.com and enter the code 66400K.
The deadline to order will be
March 11, 2022
$16.00 for the softcover edition

Important Information
Start Times & Transportation
Our school day starts at 8:45 am every day. Student drop off begins at 8:30 am.
It is important that students are not dropped off prior to that time. This is a matter of safety as there are no staff members supervising until 8:35 am.
Thank you for your cooperation. 

If you need to drop your student off before this time, the YMCA has a latchkey program at MES. For more information, please call the YMCA at 316-264-1610. 

Students who arrive after 8:50 am will be counted tardy. If a student is brought late to school, the parent must come in and sign them in on the clipboard in the vestibule.

Please call the office at 316-722-8230 if your child is going to be absent or if you have a transportation change.  For student safety, please let the office know of a transportation change before 3:00 pm.

If your student is riding a different bus home with a friend, a note is required from both sets of parents. These need to be given to the office for Mr. White to sign and can then be given to the bus driver.  
yellow-bday-cake.jpg
Deliveries & Invitations
Please be aware that school district policy does not allow us to accept flowers, lunch or other deliveries to students at school. Please contact your student's teacher to arrange a time to celebrate a special occasion with treats, etc. 
  
BOE policy does not allow party invitations to be distributed at school. Please refer to the Skyward Family Access Student Directory or your classroom directory for student addresses. 
No More Clipping! Now Just Scan Your Receipt!
Don't like to clip? There's a new way you can support our school with Box Tops for Education. Simply download the Box Tops for Education app, choose Maize Elementary School in the setup, and then just scan your receipt every time you grocery shop. It will pick up from your receipt whether or not there are box tops and credit them to the school. So easy! For more information Click Here.
Food Service
USD 266 uses the Skyward Food Service and RevTrak fee payment systems. Please check your email and phone numbers in Skyward, so you may be alerted when your child only has 2 lunches left. Parents receive an email when your child has $5.00 left in their account. Parents receive a 2nd email after your child has 1 lunch left. You will also receive a 3rd email when your child has a zero balance.

Parents may keep as large a balance as they wish in a child's account. If the student doesn't have enough in his/her lunch account to cover a meal, the account will be charged for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk if the student chooses to take one. No meal charges will be allowed and we are not allowed to go into one child's account to pay for a sibling.

Daily lunches are $2.50 each and extra milk is .40 cents. Lunch menus can be found online at usd266.com.

If you have any questions regarding Skyward and the RevTrak system, please call our school office. We want every child to have a good lunch, every day!
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze